5 Ways To Upgrade A Boring Concrete Driveway
When putting in a new driveway, don't be afraid to get a bit creative. Although plain concrete is serviceable, there are better options that can make a driveway go from plain to beautiful.
1. Cast Concrete Paving
Concrete can be cast into molds during installation. There are many mold options, from natural-looking stone cobbles to pretty geometric shapes. The concrete can be molded and cured in advance, or the molds can be erected in place and the concrete poured on site. Aggregate and dyes are sometimes mixed into the concrete before it is molded to help complete the illusion of stone pavers or cobbles.
2. Stamped Concrete
A simpler way to create a fairly convincing facsimile of cobble or brick paving is to use stamps to add designs to plain concrete before it cures completely. There is a large range of stamp designs to choose from. Pavers, cobbles, and bricks are popular options but you can also choose from simple designs like swirls or repeating patterns. When combined with dyes or painted effects, the stamped surface can be quite beautiful.
3. Dye Options
The typical gray concrete color can seem bland, but concrete can actually be dyed any color. Dyes are mixed into the concrete before it is poured so that the color is even throughout the pavement. This method works best if you want to pave large swaths in a single color. If you prefer designs or shadowing, such as when highlighting designs on a stamped surface, acid dyeing is a good option. This is applied after the concrete cures so that the dyes penetrate into the surface pores of the paving.
4. Aggregate Surfaces
Aggregate comes in a range of options, from small single-colored gravel to attractive mixes of sparkling quartz or colorful pebbles. The driveway concrete is poured as usual, then the aggregate stones are embedded in the surface as the concrete cures. You can opt for one type of aggregate covering the entire surface, or the installer can create pattern effects by using different types or colors of aggregate.
5. Stone Inlays
Stone or tile can be quite pretty, but it isn't durable enough on its own when it comes to a driveway. Inlaying the stone or tiles into the concrete adds the necessary strength. One attractive option is to edge the driveway with pretty tiles or natural stones. Or, you can create a mosaic effect by adding stone inlays in a pattern over the surface of the drive.
Contact a residential paving service to begin designing your new driveway today.